christinmk, I don't think you understand some aspects of the plant patent situation. "So if the seeds don't come "true" why the heck is it "illegal" to grow them??" It's NOT illegal to grow the seeds. It's ONLY illegal to propagate the plant vegetatively (cuttings, divisions, etc). Even if the sexually-created seeds happened to produce an exact duplicate (the odds are near zero), it would not be illegal to grow them (at least if you could show that they were from seed). Another side to this is that most propagators would never do anything about a hobbyist vegetatively propagating a plant for their own use. I guess you could say it's like running a stop sign in the middle of the desert when you could see 20 miles in every direction. "All it is (,) is nursery industry greed..." Is wanting to be able to make a barely decent living greedy? Many plant patent holders make relatively little on their creation. They work long and hard hours and deserve the fruit of their labor (pun intended). Without plant patents, many of the newer plants today simply wouldn't exist. The law is mainly aimed at commercial production, but does equally apply to everyone (even the hobbyist). I'll bet many shoplifters are able to justify their actions by thinking that the stores are greedy, but that doesn't change what's right and wrong, and it doesn't make the activity legal. Most propagators only want to protect their creative-property and their means of making a living. The law was written by the legislature, not by the hard working propagators (a large number of which are hobbyist themselves).

I don't know, Connie, lol. I guess it would have it's good points and bad. My Green Jewel bloomed and I LOVE it! But now that I just scrolled back through the thread to see who blew kisses to their Green Jewel (I was going to post that I can see why, lol!) I notice that the photo Connie posted above shows something different than what I have. Mine are quite green, but the real difference is the petals. Mine are wider, more closely set together, and are rounder, or actually, maybe squarer is the right description. The petals don't taper to as much of a point as above. I'll see if I can get a photo. It's such a pain in the neck because I can only upload photos on my DH's computer, not mine. I'll see what I can do. :) Dee

Yes, I got it from Rosy Dawn, Dena. It is slower growing than some, but such an impressive plant that it's worth waiting for. I still haven't taken any cuttings, as it only has one main stem so far. If it doesn't branch soon, I will take the cutting anyway, and force it to. Marcia

Ken, Beautiful Guardian Angel! Mine got mauled by something this spring (its first year too) but came back some. I'm hoping it looks even half as good as yours in the future. I have Green w/Envy and like it so much I have at least 4 plants (from divisions). Mine seems to have a fairly rapid growth rate. I'm buying more soaker hoses and DEADLINE next spring. (And I don't even want to hear it from you "formaldehyde haters". I'll use it sparingly. I got nowhere with the ammonia spray. Apparently I can't get up early enough or go out late enough to make contact). I vow to WATER, WATER, WATER and fertilize until mid July! I'll add compost in the spring along with coffee ground tea... Zowee, these sound like New Year's resolutions already! Ken, you inspire me! Char